2025 -- H 5847

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

FINDINGS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE FLOODING OF THE

PAWTUXET RIVER

     Introduced By: Representatives Read, Noret, Nardone, Quattrocchi, Baginski, Serpa,
Roberts, Bennett, Chippendale, and Santucci

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     WHEREAS, The Pawtuxet River watershed is the largest of Rhode Island's watersheds

within the State's boundaries. With its headwaters in the hills of western Rhode Island, the river's

North Branch flows generally west to east for 17 miles from the Gainer Dam in Scituate, and

enters Narragansett Bay at Pawtuxet Cove; and

     WHEREAS, Pre-existing elevated river levels, river structures, and saturated soil

conditions have resulted in serious and potentially life-threatening flood situations along the

Pawtuxet River; and

     WHEREAS, On numerous occasions, the Pawtuxet River flooding has caused fowl-

smelling river sediment to be washed downstream and deposited on abutting homes and

businesses; and

     WHEREAS, In December of 2023, heavy rain led to historic water levels almost 6 feet

over flood stage, resulting in flooding of Warwick neighborhoods by the Pawtuxet River; and

     WHEREAS, In January of 2024, the river once again inundated neighborhoods in

Warwick and surrounding areas with the rising water levels and resultant damages; and

     WHEREAS, In the best interest of the general public and future generations, it is

essential to find solutions to this ongoing and potentially hazardous issue; now therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of eleven (11) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives from areas affected by Pawtuxet River flooding, to be appointed by the Speaker

of the House; one of whom shall be the District Engineer Commander of the New England

District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or designee; one of whom shall be a home owner in a

potential flood zone area, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a

business owner in a potential flood zone area, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one

of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), or

designee; one of whom shall be the Acting Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 1, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Warwick Sewer Authority, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Director of the RI Department of Environmental Management, or designee;

and one of whom shall be the Chairman of the Pawtuxet River Authority and Watershed

Authority, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study and provide findings and potential

solutions to address the flooding of the Pawtuxet River including, but not limited to:

Infrastructure improvements like dredging the riverbed;

Constructing floodwalls or levees;

Enhancing storm drains;

Implementing green infrastructure like rain gardens;

Revising land use planning to limit development in floodplains; and

Community preparedness initiatives to minimize flood impacts and promote

resilience.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a

chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. All

departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and

otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the

commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings to the House of

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Representatives no later than January 2, 2026, and said commission shall expire on March 2,

2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

FINDINGS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE FLOODING OF THE

PAWTUXET RIVER

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     This resolution creates an eleven (11)-member legislative commission whose purpose it

would be to study and provide findings and potential solutions to address the flooding of the

Pawtuxet River, and who would report back to the House no later than January 2, 2026, and

whose life would expire on March 2, 2026.

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